Must Read in 2016

I know I am a little late to the party so I will just call this challenge Must Read in 2016 Minus Twelve Days.  No matter how late I am, I always enjoy sharing books and my reading life with other teachers and readers.  

This challenge is hosted by Carrie Gelson at There's A Book for That and is a list of books that we want to read in 2016 because we didn't get to them in previous years.  For most of us, finding book choices is not a problem - narrowing them down to a reasonable list is.  Please check out her blog to see those neglected books everyone will be reading this year.

I have decided to group them again this year.  The only rule I have is that no book can be published in 2016 because chances are, I will read those regardless.

So here are my groups.

Migrated Books - books which I had on previous Must Read lists and STILL have not read them.

 

Greenglass House by Kate Milford

P.S. Be Eleven by Rita Williams-Garcia

The Wig in the Window by Kristen Kittscher

Series Books - books in a series I have either started but have not finished, or I want to read the series because my students are reading them.

I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore

Divergent by Veronica roth

Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

The Eye of Minds by James Dashner

The Eighth Day by Dianne K. Salerni

Book Club Books - books in my student book clubs which I have not read.

Absolutely Truly by Heather Vogel Frederick

My Brother's Secret by Dan Smith  Read 2/21

Red Thread Sisters by Carol Antoinette Peacock

TBR Books - books on my nightstand or on my floor or in a box which never seem to make it to the top of the pile.

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness Read 1/15

Wish Girl by Niki Loftin

All Fall Down by Ally Carter

Prairie Evers by Ellen Airgood Read 1/16

The Paper Cowboy by Kristin Levine

The Whisper by Aaron Starmer

Code of Honor by Alan Gratz  Read 12/21

Mark of the Thief by Jennifer Nielsen

An Unlikely Warrior by Georg Rauch

Personal Development - books to help me live intentionally

Live with Intention by Maryanne Radmacher

Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert  Read 8/26

Happy Reading in 2016!

Things We Notice

Thanks to Two Writing Teachers for creating this space to share our stories.  Read other slices or write your own and share here. 

Have you ever noticed when you purchase a new car, you see many others just like yours?

Or when you are/were pregnant, many other women were pregnant too?

Funny how that happens.

I noticed the same thing last week when I was reading everyone's one little word posts.  It seemed as if a common theme thread its way through many posts.  

One of relaxation and reflection.

Slowness and simplicity.

Many people seem to be less driven and have more of the attitude of taking time, slowing down and noticing what has been given.  

I saw words such as presence, essential, believe, intentional, happy, joy, possible, wonder, developing, contentment, wait and home.  I even learned a new word: selah, holy pause, which really encompasses all of these words.  

I also noticed that many of these words were not verbs or words of action; they were nouns and adjectives or states of being.

Maybe there was a reason why I noticed.

One Little Word 2016

Thank to Two Writing Teachers for creating this space to share our stories.  Read other slices or write your own and share here. 

A new year.  A new word.  A new story.

Last week I tweeted how choosing a one little word is almost as serious as naming a child. Much thought goes into choosing this word which will guide my new year.  I love reading everyone's stories of how their OLW found them.

Here is my story in three parts.

Part one:  

In December I challenged myself to write a haiku a day.  Writing every day opened my eyes.  I captured life in snippets of syllables and learned that life appears differently when looking at it through the lens of a poem.  

Small things appear big and big things appear small.

If you look at my blog posts, a time span of about six days is void of poems.  That was the time when I was held hostage by the chaos of life and school.  I was not taking the time to see the snippets, and I realized how much I missed it.  I began wondering if I was missing the opportunity to see and live life because I was so wrapped up the chaos.

Part Two:  

During this time I also was pondering my one little word.  I narrowed my list to two words, but felt one was tugging a little harder than the other.  I began looking for signs, quotes, or inspiration to see if this word was truly calling me.

It wasn't.

Everything I read about this word made me feel that I had to change me by adding something or taking something away.  It was do this and do that.  

I didn't want to change me.

I was discouraged, and I began looking for another word.

Part three:

I have a student writing group, and I started making an "I am..." idea prompt in my notebook.  As I was making this list:

a daughter

a sister

a wife

a mother

a teacher

a quilter

a reader

a Christian

I realized that some of these titles were who I am, but most were who I became. There is a difference.  

I decided to change my list to "I choose..." and my list started looking like this... 

to laugh

to cry

to believe in God

to be kind

to write

to read

to teach

to inspire

That is when I realized that my one word I had been thinking about was right all along.  All three of these events became an epiphany.

I don't have to change who I am.  

I get to choose who I am, and I choose to become me by living and capturing my life in snippets.  

In snippets that matter.

In snippets with intent.

My One Little Word for 2016:

Intent

{ion}

{ional}

{ionally}

Ink - Celebration #1

 

Each week Ruth Ayres extends an invitation to share and celebrate events, big or small, from our week.  Won't you join us?

I love new beginnings:  a new year, a new month...

a new story

a new celebration .

New beginnings help us to realize our story is unfinished.  We have a blank page begging for our words.

How will you write your new beginning?

What will your story be?

What will you celebrate?

life is a blank page

ink fills my heart with story

and celebration 

©Leigh Anne Eck, 2016

I can't wait to read yours.

Thinking about Choosing a One Little Word?

This time of year many people are thinking about their one little word.  Some may be narrowing their choices.  Some may be waiting for that sign.  While others may be choosing a word for the first time.

Last year I read the book One Word That Will Change Your Life by Jon Gordon. Many lines and ideas made me think about choosing the right word for me.  Giving up resolutions was very easy for me because that was something in which I typically failed.  Choosing one word gives me a way to approach the new year and a focus to carry me throughout the year. It certainly becomes a way for me to grow each year in so many ways.

If you are narrowing your choices or considering choosing a word for the first time, the book suggests you ask these three questions while opening your heart for your word:

1.  What do I need?  Think about what areas of your life need attention or change and why?  Try not to think about what you want, but rather what you need.  You might be surprised by what you find.  

2.  What's in my way?  What obstacles are in your way?  What do you need to remove in order to find this personal growth?  "Sometimes the barriers are simply in our mind."  This line was an eye opener for me.

3.  What needs to go?  We all make mistakes or hold on to things in which we need to let go.  This is the time to let go and move forward.

Each year the power of one word becomes a journey that leads me throughout the year.  It changes me, or maybe I just become more in tuned with who I am. Regardless, I know I want to continue with choosing a OLW, and hope you will consider choosing one too.

I end with these final words from the book.  For me, this is the key.  This holds the power of one little word.

Your word shapes your character.  

Your character influences your actions.  

Your actions influence others.  

The lives you touch and the impact you have 

determine the story that will be told about you tomorrow?

Must Read in 2015 Comes to an End

Two years ago Carrie Gelson of There's a Book for That started a must read list and link up. It consisted of a list of books that we didn't read in the current year but wanted to read in the following year.  My first year my list was much too long.

This year my list was shorter, and I was surprisingly much more successful ~ I finished eight out of my ten books listed, but read two complete trilogies.  You can read my original post here. 

Sometimes I wonder why I participate in reading challenges.  The first answer and the only answer for me is that sharing books makes my reading experiences even better!  So many times when I finish a book, the first thing I want to do is talk about it.  I never lack for a listener because of my connected reading groups.  So, thank you friends for listening, for sharing, and for reading with me.

Here are my top two, or should I say top six in my Must Read in 2105 list!

The Ascendance Trilogy by Jennifer Nielsen

I chose this series because 2014 was my first year teaching 6th grade, and I knew I needed to start reading books for this upper grade level.  This series was so amazingly intense, I finished it before March.  It also introduced me to a new-to-me author, Jennifer A. Nielsen.  If you have not read anything by her, I highly suggest you change that soon.  A Night Divided, also written by her, is another excellent choice.

My Life Is a Zoo by Jess Keating

How to Outrun a Crocodile was on my list because it was the January pick for the Virtual Book Club, an online monthly book club/chat hosted by Niki Ohs Barnes (@daydreeamreader) and Beth Panageotou (@epan11).

I liked the first one so much that I read this whole series too. Ana, the main character is one of my favorite characters of 2015.  I would love to have her as a student and would have loved to have her as a friend when I was in middle school.  This is just a fun series to read!

I hope you consider joining Carrie, me and many other bloggers for Must Read in 2016!  Look for the link-up on January 5th.  Check out her blog here for everyone's final update for 2015.

Here is the lineup for the Virtual Book Club titles selected for 2016.  You might just find a few more to add to your Must Read list!

Happy Reading!

A New Year Awaits - December Haiku #31

Photo by Flickr

as I turn the page

reflections in the mirror

memories ahead

©Leigh Anne Eck, 2015

The Final Turn

Thank you to Two Writing Teachers for creating a place to share our Slice of Life.  Read more slices or add you own here.

With just two days left in 2015, it means it is time to reflect on my one little word.  I have quickly learned how hard it is to say goodbye to my one little words.  I jokingly tweeted the other night that choosing a word was as serious as naming your children because so much time and effort is put into searching, thinking, and choosing these words which guide us through the year.

I knew 2015 would be a year of changes and challenges, or what I have referred to as life turns, and boy was I right!  We have had detours and roadblocks along the way, but we have become stronger as my family and I took the scenic route.

The year started out with my husband taking a detour and "trying out" retirement.  We often wondered why things turned out the way they did, but we eventually found our answer.  My son, who was a senior at the time, would be playing his final season of golf.  He has played for about 10 years and my husband missed many of those matches because of his job.  This year he got to not only see Ethan finish his final season, his final hole, but also got to see him make his first hole in one! 

Ethan graduated from high school in May.  He is still searching for a major and trying to find his way, but he made it through his first semester at our local college.  

Megan graduated from college and started her first year of teaching.  That has been a life turn I have written quite a bit about this year.  It has been a bumpy ride, but I think she is going to make it!

Because my life as a parent turned in new directions, I was able to take some time for me; it became my turn. I still have some things I want to do personally and professionally, but these things lead me perfectly to my one little word for 2016.

As I say goodbye to 2015 and make the final turn of the calendar page, I am grateful for the turns my life took, and I look forward to what 2016 brings.

Happy New Year!

Morning Treat - December Tanka Riddle #29

Back in early December, I was inspired by a post from my wonderful blogging buddy, LeAnn Carpenter, also known as Elsie.  After reading it, I knew I wanted to use her words for one of my December haiku because many of her lines were the perfect syllable count. 

To change things up a bit, I wanted to write a riddleku, taken from Laura Purdie Salas, where the poem is written from the point of view of an object or animal.  The reader tries to guess "what" has written the poem.

The only problem with using Elsie's post, was that I needed more syllables than a traditional haiku, so it is now a tanka.  Or should I say, a tanka riddle?  Read the poem and then scroll down to see if you correctly solved the riddle!

freckled with age spots

to the point of no return; 

I'm saved by retreating hands

only to be turned into 

a delightful morning treat

What am I?

©Leigh Anne Eck, 2015

Banana Muffins!

Pictures taken by LeAnn Carpenter.  Click here to read her post.

I just realized I did not follow the tanka line/syllables rule! Oh well, I kind of like it the way it is!

Mother Nature's Ball - December Haiku #28

Yesterday...or I should say for many days...it poured down rain.  For a brief moment the sun poked its head out after a day of dark, dreary clouds.  I was working at school and looked out my windows and the reflection of the sun turned these raindrops into Mother Nature's diamonds.  

sparkling diamonds 

and black tie required for

Mother Nature's ball

©Leigh Anne Eck, 2015

Turn - December Haiku #27

It is almost time for me to say goodbye to my one little word for 2015.  A reflection post will come on Tuesday, but for now it is my haiku for the day.

my one little word 

leading me on a journey

telling my story

©Leigh Anne Eck, 2015

Celebrate Turn #33 and Christmas Haiku #26

 

Each week Ruth Ayres extends an invitation to share and celebrate events, big or small, from our week. I cannot believe that this is the last celebration post of 2015.  This year I have numbered my posts as Turns because that has been my one little word for 2015.  Looking at the number, 33, I may not have written every Saturday, but I have always celebrated.  I have learned it is the celebration that is most important. 

I have written many posts this year about parenting my almost-adult children.  It has not been easy.  I have found that this type of parenting seems to be the most difficult during big moments such as birthdays, first and last days of school, but especially Christmas.

Thankfully my kids continue to let me celebrate their childhood at Christmas time.  Or maybe it is because they are not quite ready to give it up either.

The night of the Christmas parade in our town, we always eat at a pizza place which is right on the parade route.  We continued that tradition this year and even went to look at Christmas lights afterward.  We hit our favorite spots and added a few new ones while singing..if you want to call it that...Christmas songs.  

Christmas Eve the four of us continued our tradition of making homemade pizzas after Christmas Eve church service.  And the 24 hour marathon of The Christmas Story movie began. 

Santa no longer visits our house, but my kids want me to wait until Christmas Eve to put their gifts under the tree.  I am glad they still want to feel that excitement of coming downstairs in the morning and seeing that "Santa" really did come.  The biggest difference is that it no longer happens at 6:00 in then morning!

Christmas Day we were all getting ready for our family celebration at my aunt's house.  Each of us came from our different corners of the house and arrived in the living room.  Megan looked at all of us and laughed.  We all had green on.  Granted they were all different shades of green, but they were green nonetheless.

It was a perfect representation of our small family.  We all have different hues and tones.  We definitely have different contrasts and brightness.  But when we our brushes come together and our colors are mixed, we make the perfect palette.  

different hues and tones

mixed by our Creator's hand

a perfect palette

©Leigh Anne Eck, 2015

Merry Christmas - Christmas Haiku #25

celebrate the day ~

joy and peace of the season

in one small package

©Leigh Anne Eck, 2015

Christmas Eve - Christmas Haiku #24

I remember those sleepless Christmas Eve nights as a child, waiting for morning and thinking it would never come.  I shared a room with my older sister, and we would lie awake wondering and hoping.  Even as my own two children become adults, that excitement and anticipation is still there, leaving me wonder if it ever goes away.

night before Christmas

the wrapped gifts under the tree

waiting for morning

©Leigh Anne Eck, 2015

In From the Porch

Have you ever had a student who you thought hated school?  I have one.  I believed she hated school and anyone or anything associated with it.

But those beliefs all changed last Friday.

It was the end of the period on our last day before Christmas Break.   My co-teacher and I were wishing our students a Merry Christmas and a happy break.  

H said, "Well I won't."

This comment did not surprise me because of her negative attitude and her general demeanor toward school.  When my co-teacher asked her about it, she replied, "I don't want to be on break.  I don't want to go home."

I was astounded and speechless.  I know that not all of our students have happy homes, and that school is the best part of their day.  But I certainly did not expect this from H.  I assumed school was the last place where she wanted to be.

How could I be so wrong about a student?

One day last week, I was playing around with book titles to create haiku for my December challenge, and I created this one.  Now, it makes me wonder about H and the many other students who are just like her.

the boy on the porch

I'm not who you think I am

bloomability

How many of our students stand on the porch of our classrooms waiting to come in?  

Waiting for us to see who they really are?  

Waiting for the chance to bloom?

When we return to school in January, I know I will see H in a different way.  I will look for her bloomability.  I have to believe it is hidden deep somewhere inside her, and it is up to me to invite her in from the porch.

Molasses Cookies - Christmas Haiku #23

molasses cookies

warm from the oven, begging

for a glass of milk

©Leigh Anne Eck, 2015